LOTERJ asked RioPag to explain blocked prize payments after Via Loterias, operator of Rio de Prêmios, reported problems accessing funds. About R$ 600 mil in prizes are being held, while RioPag’s chief executive said a court order blocked the company’s accounts; LOTERJ sought a response by 11 November.
The blocked payments affect Rio de Prêmios winners and the operator’s access to funds held by its payment intermediary.
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Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies Finance and Taxation Committee approved a request on 5 November 2026 for a public hearing on online betting taxes, financial controls and the reported Willer Tomaz–Blaze case. The request invites government and financial authorities to discuss oversight; the hearing date has not been set, and the request says it does not prejudge wrongdoing or responsibility.
The Finance and Taxation Committee (CFT) of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies approved a request from deputy Hildo Rocha (MDB-MA) for a public hearing on Wednesday. The hearing does not yet have a date.
Brazilian federal police are investigating whether senator Flávio Bolsonaro held an undisclosed interest in online betting site BestBet, which had a licence from Rio de Janeiro state lottery LOTERJ. Bolsonaro denies an illicit business relationship; Willer Tomaz also disputes the reporting and says his companies operate lawfully.
Brazil's Federal Police are investigating lawyer Willer Tomaz over suspicious financial transactions involving online gambling platforms. Court documents obtained by CNN Brasil show Tomaz wagered R$6.6bn ($1.3bn) on Blaze, making more than 53,000 bets with net losses of about $29m. A Finance Ministry report alleged Blaze failed to adequately scrutinise his betting activity; Blaze said it complies with regulations and monitors transactions rigorously, while Tomaz says his funds were legally obtained and disputes the government's figures.
Brazil's Federal Police are examining lawyer Willer Tomaz over financial transactions tied to online gambling platforms that they consider suspicious, court documents obtained by CNN Brasil indicate. The records, raise the possibility that certain transactions served to conceal money movements. According to those documents, Tomaz's play on Blaze casino games alone reached R$6.6bn ($1.3bn), with net losses of roughly $29m across a betting volume exceeding 53,000 wagers.
Rio de Janeiro’s state lottery, LOTERJ, unilaterally terminated its payment-services contract with RioPag, signed on 22 September and published the following day. LOTERJ is seeking R$9.4 million, including a R$4.8 million contractual fine and more than R$2.1 million in financial gains it says RioPag obtained from retained public funds; RioPag has two working days to complete the transition.
Rio de Janeiro’s state court ordered the freezing of up to R$ 20.9 million in RioPag accounts in a case brought by LOTERJ, according to the report. The judge said the funds belonged to the state lottery and ordered their transfer to a court-controlled account; RioPag had acknowledged the money and proposed repayment in instalments, which LOTERJ rejected.